athletes | DD News

October 18, 2026 8:46 PM

Asian Para Games 2026: Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi welcomes athletes

As the Asian Para Games opening ceremony gets underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed all the athletes and officials from across Asia. She praised the athletes’ determination and resilience, acknowledged the support of their families and teams, and expressed hope that the seven-day competition, featuring 18 sports until October 24, would inspire people and highlight the potential of para sports. "Today, the fifth Asian Para Games (2026/Aich...

September 15, 2026 10:47 PM

Raksha Khadse Reviews Sports Infrastructure, Meets Athletes in Aizawl

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse reviewed the sports ecosystem in Mizoram during her visit to Aizawl, with a focus on strengthening sports infrastructure and creating greater opportunities for young athletes from the Northeast. The Minister was welcomed by Mizoram Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services Lalnghinglova Hmar. The two held discussions on strengthening the state's sporting ecosystem, including Centre-State coordination, development of sports...

August 24, 2026 5:18 PM

PM Modi to address young athletes during ‘Khelo India Dialogue’ on August 27

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address young budding athletes and youth leaders during a nationwide initiative, “Khelo India Dialogue - Khel Ki Baat, Pradhan Mantri Modi Ke Saath”, on August 27 to mark National Sports Day 2026. The large-scale youth engagement programme will be organised across more than 1,500 educational institutions throughout the country, bringing together young people, athletes, policymakers and representatives of educational institutions. IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, l...

August 4, 2026 9:53 PM

Sports Minister Mandaviya felicitates CWG 2026 medallists, urges athletes to mentor future champions

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday felicitated Indian medallists from the Commonwealth Games 2026, praising their historic performances in boxing, judo and para-athletics and urging them to inspire and mentor the next generation of sportspersons. Addressing the athletes at a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi, Mandaviya said India's sporting success should extend beyond winning medals, encouraging athletes to contribute to the country's sporting ecosyst...

August 3, 2026 6:40 PM

Sports Minister Mandaviya felicitates Commonwealth weightlifting medallists, urges athletes to inspire youth

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday felicitated India's Commonwealth Games 2026 weightlifting medallists, presenting cash rewards and urging them to inspire the next generation by visiting schools and colleges to promote sports. Recognising the team's impressive performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Minister awarded ₹30 lakh to gold medallists, ₹20 lakh to silver medallists and ₹10 lakh to bronze medallists. Indian weightlifters returne...

November 2, 2025 6:15 PM

PM Modi congratulates young athletes for historic performance at Asian Youth Games 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded India’s young athletes for their historic performance at the Asian Youth Games 2025, where the country achieved its best-ever medal haul. India clinched a total of 48 medals - 13 gold, 18 silver, and 17 bronze - at the Games held in Manama, Bahrain, surpassing its previous tallies from 2009 and 2013. In a post on X, the Prime Minister praised the contingent’s determination and hard work, saying, “Our young athletes have scripted history at t...

October 27, 2025 7:58 PM

Athletes call for climate adaptation fightback ahead of COP30

Climate change is one of the toughest opponents facing any athlete, warns Brazilian soccer player Tamires Dias, one of around 40 elite sportsmen and women involved in the launch of a new global campaign that will feature at next month's COP30 summit in her country. Dias, who played in two Women's World Cups, has been joined by the likes of Brazilian tennis player Beatriz Haddad Maia, surfer Maya Gabeira, Romanian Olympic swimmer David Popovici and former England soccer player Raheem Sterling to...

October 17, 2025 11:05 PM

Enhanced Games destined to fail, says sprint great Carl Lewis

Sprint great Carl Lewis says he does not think the controversial Enhanced Games will be successful and the American is not keen to lend it any oxygen either. The Enhanced Games, which allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs to elicit 'superhuman' performances, has stirred the still water of traditional sports and attracted Olympic medallists such as American sprinter Fred Kerley and British swimmer Ben Proud. "I don't think it's going to be successful," nine-times Olympic gold medal...

June 10, 2025 1:11 PM

11 years of Modi govt: Indian athletes shine on global stage with record-breaking performances

India’s sporting achievements have witnessed a remarkable surge over the past 11 years, with Indian athletes delivering historic performances across major international competitions. Backed by flagship initiatives like Khelo India, TOPS, and KIRTI, the country has steadily climbed the global sporting ladder. At the Olympics, India went from winning just 2 medals at Rio 2016 to a record 7 medals at Tokyo 2020 and 6 at Paris 2024. Star performers such as Neeraj Chopra, who clinched India’s fi...

March 25, 2025 10:26 PM

World Athletics to introduce genetic tests for women

Female athletes will soon have to undergo a one-time genetic test to compete in women's events, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said on Tuesday, after proposals to tighten eligibility rules were discussed at the body's council. Coe said regulations would be drafted soon and the global body, which governs track-and-field and road-running events, would find a test provider with the capacity to conduct the non-invasive cheek swab or dry blood spot analysis tests. Athletes would have to ta...